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Originally Posted by mad brad turner

EL SEGUNDO - It's not the easiest of road trips for the Lakers, but when they play the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks in what they call the "Texas Two-Step," it is a way for them to measure themselves.
Though the Spurs are the defending NBA champions, they are in a little bit of a funk.

They are 5-5 in their past 10 games.

Still, the Lakers know San Antonio will be a tall order when they meet tonight at the SBC Center.

The Mavericks posted an NBA-best 67-15 record last season but were upset in the first round of the playoffs.

They still seem to have a hangover and have just started to sort themselves out.

The Mavericks are 8-2 in their past 10 games and will be tough to play when the Lakers see them Friday.

"It's tough when you are playing both teams," Kobe Bryant said. "San Antonio and Dallas are two great teams. So it's going to be challenging."